The most beautiful natural sites to discover Sri Lanka

Adam's Peak is one of the most important mountains in Sri Lanka, both geographically and religiously. Its peak is 2,243 meters high. Revered by the first inhabitants of Sri Lanka, the Veddas, who called it Samanala Kanda (Saman, one of the four guardian deities of the island), its summit has what is believed to be a footprint carved into the stone. Buddhists see it as a symbol of the third (and last) passage of Buddha in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese dedicated it in the 16th century to Saint Thomas, the evangelizer of India. The Hindus see in it the trace of the passage of Vishnu or Shiva. Finally, the Muslims have decreed that it is the imprint of Adam, who, driven out of the Garden of Eden, was sent to this peak and condemned to remain on one foot for a thousand years. The mark in the stone attracts crowds of pilgrims every year from the full moon in December to the full moon in May (the busiest period is January-February). Two main ways (north and south) allow to reach the summit where a temple is located. The northern route is the easiest and allows to reach the destination in 3 hours of walk from Nallathianniya.

Several stations, spaced 1.5 to 2 kilometers apart, allow pilgrims to rest on the 7 kilometers and 5,831 steps that separate them from the summit from Nallathianniya. Their names are Gangula Thanna, Rathu Ambalama and Idikatu Pahana. They are well supplied with shops.

Many temples(Ambalama) are also scattered along the way which becomes more and more difficult as the climb progresses.

The climb really begins once you pass the beautiful Makara Thorana stone gate, about 1.5 kilometers from the bridge over the river at the exit of Nallathianniya. However, the seven kilometers of the route are counted from Nallathianniya (Police Station) to the top.

SamaChatiya, the World Peace Pagoda, which is located a little before Gangula Thanna, the first rest station, was built in 1976 by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fuhi Thero (1885-1985).

A devotee of non-violence, he organized large marches from 1931 onwards and was responsible for the construction of about 80 Peace Pagodas around the world.

Sri Pada Maluwa. This small whitewashed temple at the top of Sri Pada is surrounded by a walkway that can accommodate a maximum of half a dozen people. Inside the sanctuary, which is relatively simple, is the sacred footprint. On a clear day, the shadow of the mountain can be discerned, straight and perfectly vertical, amidst the mist. This unexplainable natural phenomenon is said to be unique in the world.

According to the ancient Sinhalese, the distance between Ceylon and Paradise was only 40 miles and one could hear from the top of the mountain the sound of the fountains of Paradise. Sri Pada is also called "Butterfly Mountain" because in March of each year, millions of butterflies fly to its summit to die. The ascent is usually done at night to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise. It is necessary to bring adequate clothing, because the nights can be fresh. A headlamp can also be useful. Once the sun rises, the sky becomes hazy and the panorama disappears little by little.

Pidurangala is a rocky promontory, about 1 kilometre as the crow flies north of the Sigiriya fortress (3 kilometres by road). It houses an ancient Buddhist monastic complex, Pidurangala Cave Temple. This monastery was developed in the^5th century by King Kashyapa. Access is via the Pidurangala Vihara, a more recent temple, and then up some steep stairs to the ancient temple and its large reclining Buddha statue, then a bit of climbing to reach the top. From the top of the rock, the view on Sigiriya and the surroundings is fantastic.

Kandy Lake is known as Kiri Muhuda, or "the Sea of Milk". It was created at the foot of the Temple of the Tooth in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Kandy, in an area previously occupied by rice fields. Today it is part of the last vestiges of the Sri Lankan Kingdom. It is an artificial lake of 1.8 km long and 300 m wide. Initially owned by the King, it was later used by the British as a recreational base. On its northern bank and near the temple, one can see the old royal baths, transformed during the English colonization into a library and, in the center, a small island. This lake is surrounded by a wall, the construction of which has not been completed. In 1815, the King was arrested and imprisoned by the British and never finished his project. The walakulu wall (wall of theclouds) is therefore still in place.

Today, the lake is a pleasant place for everyone to come and relax and take a walk during the day or evening. The shaded path around the lake offers a beautiful view of the hills and the city. It is particularly popular with walkers and joggers. Boat trips are possible as well as shuttle transfers from one shore to the other. The place is secure because it is guarded by guards. The only drawback is that during the day, you may be solicited by a few assiduous sellers, looking for tourists.

Eco Park is located in Hurulu Forest, which covers 25,000 hectares north of Habarana. Opened in 2007, Eco Park covers only 1,000 hectares of land. Smaller and less expensive than other sites (notably the nearby Minneriya National Park), Eco Park will allow you to observe many groups of elephants in the wild. The route is pleasant but there are far too many vehicles on the same observation point at the same time. Hurulu Wewa, a very modestly sized reservoir, is the main waterhole in the area.

These magnificent waterfalls, 109 m high, are partially visible from the road. They are the result of the convergence of many streams coming from Puna Oya Reservoir. They are actually made up of three falls: Ramboda Oya Ella (the highest), Ramboda Oya Meda Ella (in which you can swim), and Pahala Ramboda Oya Ella. To get there, you have to go through the Ramboda Falls Hotel and take the lift to the garden. A path leads down to an observation platform at the base of the waterfalls.

Created in 1873 during the British period, Gregory Lake covers an area of 91 hectares southeast of the city center. In 1913, the waters of the lake were directed into a tunnel that flows to a hydroelectric plant in Blackpool, which to this day continues to provide electricity to the city. The lake is probably the major attraction of Nuwara Eliya. You can fish, pedal boat, boat, walk or cycle around it. Since 2012, seaplanes land there regularly, in season, from Colombo (a 30-minute flight).

Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) is a non-governmental organization that protects nesting sites, unlike local hatcheries that collect eggs and hatch them off the beach. The nearby Rekawa lagoon is a good place for sea turtles to lay their eggs. Here you can see five of the seven species present in Sri Lanka visiting the beach area. You have to be patient because, like any natural event, the arrival of the turtles does not take place at a fixed time. It is still rare not to see one.

Giant's Tank Sanctuary is a nature reserve located about 20 km southeast of Mannar. Many species of waterfowl and wading birds are found in the sanctuary, as well as a few elephants. At the heart of the sanctuary is the Yodha Wewa, the Giant 's tank, considered to be one of the greatest creations of King Parakramabahu I. This tank is said to be one of the first human hydraulic installations on the island. Forgotten for a long time, it was reused when the British arrived.

It is the eastern tip of Sri Lanka. 225 km separate Sangamankanda from Colombo. The location is only for its geographic characteristics and if you are nearby. It does not offer a particular panorama.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation manages all national parks in Sri Lanka. Its website will give you a lot of information about them and about reservations (Strict natural reserves—Nature reserves) and sanctuaries (Sanctuaries). It does not support the Forest Reserves or the Wilderness Areas, which depend on the Forest Department.

Beautiful waterfall 48 metres high on the western slope of Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve.

Legend has it that these hot springs were "created" by King Ravana to celebrate the funeral of his mother, Kanniya, at a time of great drought. "Created" is the right word because, to get the water he needed, he touched a rock with his sword and seven springs of pure water immediately flowed out. The water can reach a temperature of 30°C. The place resembles a large, blue-tiled, dry basin containing seven wells from which pilgrims bring up the water with buckets and sprinkle themselves generously.

Located 2 km south of Ella, this cave is said to have been used by King Ravana to hide Princess Sita, the wife of Rama. The climb is not easy, you have to climb about 650 uneven steps, some of them quite high, to reach this small cave. The site is not exceptional in itself, it was even seriously damaged by the archaeological service of Sri Lanka which dug excavations there. A human skull dating back to 20,000 BC was found there. The site will however delight fans of the Ramayana, the famous Hindu epic.

The park is located in a dry area, mainly subject to the influence of the monsoon in the North-East. Pluviometry annual average is 1 766 mm. The best time to visit is between May and at the end of November. Gal Oya Valley could be occupied by Singhalese kings at three places: Digha Vapi, Govindahela and Nilgala. The mountainous region in the west was one of the last strongholds of Veddhas. Created in 1954, this park of 64 000 ha is close to several water points, including the huge reservoir Senanayake Samudra. The elephants are numerous and the most interesting excursion to make is a ride in boat that allows you to see the pachyderms watering itself or in the bathroom. The park is very little developed for tourism and, except a campsite, there is no accommodation inside. Rooms are available to Inginiyagala and Ampara. You can find a guide and a 4x4 with Ampara and Inginiyagala.

Located in the Oya Heda basin, Lahugala Kitulana National Park covers 1,554 ha. Although it is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka, it has the advantage of being easily accessible (it is crossed by the main road leading to Colombo) and home to many animals including many elephants and endemic birds. On its southern side is the historical site of Magul Maha Vihara, built for the marriage of King Kavantissa (205-161 BC) and Viharamaha Devi. The nearest accommodation is in Pottuvil-Arugam Bay.

Bible Rock, also called Bathalegala, owes its name to its rectangular shape, reminiscent of a bible. This huge rock, 798 m high, has a certain resemblance with Sigiriya. A path leads to the top, count about 30 minutes (easy ascent) to enjoy the splendid panorama. A small temple is located in the southern part of the hill. It is perfectly visible from Kadugannawa Pass on the A1 road between Colombo and Kandy. From Kandy, turn off at the village of Mawanella, then follow the road for 10 km.

It is a nature reserve located on the north-eastern heights of the city. The entrance is through its western flank, a 15-minute walk from the Temple of the Tooth. The forest was declared a nature reserve in 1856 before becoming a sanctuary in 1938. Well known to the local people, it is a good place to observe its flora and fauna, especially birds. More than 460 varieties of plants have been recorded, including 21 endemic ones. The canopy is home to nearly 80 different species of birds. Two circuits are available: one of 3 km and another of 5 km.

This cave, if it is not very deep, marks by its height. The entrance is 45 meters high and 60 meters wide. It is estimated that it could accommodate 3,000 people. During excavations carried out between 1986 and 2009, archaeologists discovered mainly microliths (small carved stone tools dating from prehistoric times) but also human graves containing six human bone fossils. These discoveries have allowed archaeologists and paleontologists to estimate that the first inhabitants of the cave were contemporaries of Cro-Magnon Man! Today, it is the oldest archaeological site in Asia.

Pahiyangala Cave, also known as Fa-Hien Cave, takes its name from a Chinese monk, Fa-Hsiengala, who, in the 4th century BC, travelled the country in search of Buddhist texts. He is said to have stayed in this cave during his journey to Adam's Peak (Sri Pada). Just before entering the cave, a cave temple conceals a 12-metre long reclining Buddha statue. Pilgrims visit the site regularly as evidenced by the candles burning in front of the temple.

The access to the Pahiyangala cave is by a staircase which crosses a thick forest, before passing the canopy. It can also be reached by a paved road (less steep) which joins the last flight of stairs. From the cave, the panorama spreads over the Sri Lankan jungle as far as the eye can see.

This waterfall that flows through the plantations St. Clair is of a breathtaking beauty of the road, 500 metres away. Named the Niagara in Sri Lanka, these falls are among the largest in the country. 80 metres high, they are 50 metres wide and are divided into two falls. The first name is «Maha Ella» (the big fall) and the second «Kuda Ella» (the small fall).

Perfectly visible from the perspective of Mlesna Tea Castle St. Clair, Devon Falls has 97 metres of high Falls in Sri Lanka. They hold their name from a certain Devon, an Englishman who was one of the forerunners of the introduction of coffee on the island.